Impeccable Grind, Unstoppable Dreams: Gravity Grammy Nomination for Best Gospel Album

In less than 48 hours, we will find out whether our most recent #1 album, Lecrae's Gravity, is nominated for a(t least one) Grammy. We know that we had at least 6 first round ballot nominations, and had the biggest first week sales in Christian Hip Hop history, dominated iTunes and Billboard so thoroughly that Time and Entertainment Weekly magazines rushed to do stories on Lecrae and the album's unprecedented (within Christian music circles) success...and we know that even as I type this, 3 months after the album's Sept 4 release date, we are still #1 on the Billboard Gospel Album Chart (see screenshot below). What we DON'T know, is how the Academy will view that success and the merits of the music itself, which has pushed the negative stereotypes of the typical Christian Hip Hop album (too theological for average listeners, not enough relatability, subpar music production) off a cliff, never to return.

On Wednesday, Dec 5, beginning at 9 PM Central time, LL Cool J and Taylor Swift will host the "Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" show, during which the nominees in every major category will be announced. I'm assuming, as with the Dove Awards earlier this year (which we were blessed to win with Lecrae's Rehab: The Overdose album), the other categories' nominees will be posted on the Grammy website www.grammy.com immediately after the show. I'm believing God that our project, which has seen so much phenomenal success and touched so many lives, will be among those nominated. Stay tuned to find out with my team thebridge, our Reach Records family, and I.

S/N - WHEN (I'm "speak(ing) those things that be not as though they were" - Rom 4:17) Lecrae's Gravity album does appear in the nominee list, I will be online immediately afterwards looking at prices for plane tix, hotels, and rental cars for my wife and I, and the same I imagine for JayTel and his wife. Our other two thebridge members who will share in the nomination with us, Ty Steez and Aphillyated, already live in Cali. I've always said to JayTel and to my dad, Apostle Billy L. Dorsey, Sr., that I would never attend these types of things unless I was actually nominated for something. I missed the Stellars (which we also won) due to family obligations (baby shower for our youngest daughter, Chloe Marie), attended the Dove Awards show back in April of this year and had the time of my life, and now it looks like God may be about to give me the last promise He made to me when I was homeless years ago. You see, He spoke into my spirit during that dark time that He would bless me to have all of my dreams come true with my music (which He has done and is doing daily), that I would have #1 albums (which He has done twice, first with Rehab: The Overdose, and again now with Gravity), and that I would win Grammys, and told me that He would elevate me in influence among my peers for the expressed purpose of lifting HIM up, and not the elevation of self. Ego and pride are pointless...all good things come from the Lord anyways, not from us. And when this last promise is fulfilled, whether Wednesday or at any other point in my life, it will be because of God's Grace, and because His Word cannot return to Him void.

I've already got my tissue ready for Wednesday :-). Keep my team and I lifted up in prayer...because next up, literally the week of the 2013 Grammy Award Ceremony in LA, is the release date of my debut Christian album (both in English and in Spanish), Marathon on Feb 12, 2013. Will I have two dreams fulfilled that week? God is able. Stay tuned.

Update 12/5/12

The Grammy Awards Nomination Concert kicked off on CBS at 9 PM (Central Time), with Taylor Swift and LL Cool J as hosts.

The first category, Best Pop Vocal Album, consisted of the following nominees:

And the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album are …
Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
Florence & The Machine, Ceremonials
Fun., Some Nights
Maroon 5, Overexposed
Pink, The Truth About Love

Songs from the nominated albums were actually sung by the announcer, talented young Country artist Hunter Hayes. I love the Maroon 5 album, which had several smash hits ("Moves Like Jagger", "Payphone"), but I think Kelly Clarkson's title song, "Stronger," was by far the most powerful song in this category, and will power her album to the Grammy. My money's on Kelly. (I must say, however, that I am very surprised that Rihanna is not nominated in this category. She had a huge year, with "We Found Love", and the album Talk That Talk. Backlash? Perhaps.)

The second category, Record of the Year, consisted of the following nominees:

The Black Keys, "Lonely Boy"
Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"
Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe, "We Are Young"
Gotye Featuring Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used To Know"
Frank Ocean, "Thinkin Bout You"
Taylor Swift, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"

As much as I love Taylor Swift and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," I just believe too strongly in Kelly Clarkson's record "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" and feel that this is the song to beat this year. I'm glad to see Frank Ocean get the nom as well, but this is Kelly's to lose.

The third category, Best New Artist, consisted of the following nominees:

Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

I don't know enough about all of the bands in this category to say who I feel has the best legitimate chance of winning this award. I am a fan of Frank Ocean's music and think he is a phenomenal songwriter, but can't say who would win this one.

The fourth category, Country Solo Performance, consisted of the following nominees:

Dierks Bentley, "Home"
Eric Church, "Springsteen"
Ronnie Dunn, "Cost Of Livin'"
Hunter Hayes, "Wanted"
Blake Shelton, "Over"
Carrie Underwood, "Blown Away"

If I had to guess, my money would be on Carrie Underwood. Not my primary music genre, so again, I'm not as knowledgeable as I would need to be to make an educated guess.

The fifth category, Album of the Year, consisted of the following nominees:

The Black Keys, El Camino

Fun., Some Nights

Mumford & Sons, Babel

Frank Ocean, Channel Orange

Jack White, Blunderbuss

The clear winner in this category is Mumford & Sons, in my opinion. They had a huge year, saleswise, and were commercial darlings of the industry as well. While I salute Frank Ocean's success as well, I do not believe he will pull this one out either.

With this category, the show ended. I immediately ran to grammy.com to see the full list of nominees, and, as my heart pounded in my chest, I scrolled down the list of nominees until I got to the Gospel Album of the Year category, where I saw that we GOT THE NOMINATION (see screenshot below)!!!! My hands are shaking as I type this....but I know what God spoke into my spirit, and so I am beyond excited, but not at all surprised. Faith is the substance of things, hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. I trusted God even before this announcement, and all this process is doing is strengthening my faith even more.

I'm about to start looking for plane tix and hotels in Beverly Hills now. This is going to be my first Grammys ceremony that I'll be attending, and I can't wait. I'll have my wife Shaunta' with me, and my best friend JayTel and his wife, my sister and stylist Merakal, along with our thebridge brothers Phil and Ty Steez, and be there with the entire Reach team on the biggest night in music. I can't wait to see what God does there, but regardless of an actual win on Feb 10, 2013, we have already won.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!!

Screenshot from Grammy.Com showing our Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album. The last promise God made to me when I was homeless years ago is within my grasp. Have Your way, Lord!